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CENTENNIAL DISCOURSE. 



HISTORICAL OF THE 



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OWN OF LONDONDERRY, I H. 



PRESBYTERIAN CHUECH AND SOCIETY. 



(Founded April, 1719.) 



Delivered Sabbath, July 2d, 1876, 



Eev. LUTHER B. FEET, Pastor. 




EXETER : 

NEWS-LETTER PKESS. 
1876. 



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Centennial Discourse. 



Deut., iv, 32 : " For ask now of the days that are past." 

The past has always been commemorated among men — 
by pillars, monuments, temples, or by festival, tradition or 
history. 

It is natural, it is needful, it is commanded 

"Remember the daj-s of old * * Ask th}- father * * thy 
elders * *. And again, '•'For ask now of the days that are 
past, which were before thee, since the day that God cre- 
ated man upon the earth, and ask from the one side of heav- 
en unto the other, whether there hath been any such thing 
as this great thing is or hath been heard like it." 

Two points of inquiry ai-e specified in the words that 
follow. One of them is, "Hath God assayed to go and take 
Him a nation from the midst of another nation * * as He 
did for you * *" The object of the inquiry is declared in 
the injunction — "'Know therefore this day and consider it in 
thine heart, that the Lord he is God, in Heaven above, and 
upon the earth beneath." 

Thus the sphere of inquiry is extended over all time, 
and with the design to perpetuate the knowledge, and a 
heartfelt remembrance of God, and of his sovereignty in 
providence : and the civil and religious landmarks of all 
ages are among the designated guides to that knowledge. 

As rivers are formed by the union of lesser sti'eams, and 
these b}' many rills and fountains, so nations and their in- 
stitutions have their remote and immediate sources. Char- 



acter is not a thing of to-day, but of years, and so through 
the ages alone do we learn the true lesson of God in provi- 
dence. 

Nor may we omit to note, that by great and notable 
events the past has been divided into eras, which, however 
differing among themselves, have yet been marked by cer- 
tain characteristics in common. We read of violence, the 
deluge and Noah ; of Sodom, fire from heaven and Abraham 
and Lot ; of Egypt, oppression, the plagues, the exodus, 
and Moses and Aaron ; of Canaan, captivity and the proph- 
ets. The beginnings of the christian era were days of Christ, 
the crucifixion, Jerusalem "numbered to the slaughter," and 
of the apostles. The days of Rome and the reformation 
tell of national humiliation, martyrdom, indulgencies, a spii'- 
it of fear, and of Luther, Zwingle, Melancthon, Calvin and 
Knox. The bare recital shows the indelible impress of the 
character and actings of God and man upon every age. 
Man has always forgotten God, and oppressed his fellow 
man. 

God has always foreborne, until the cup of sin was full, 
then he has visited wrath upon the offending, and brought 
the faithful out into a larger place of liberty of conscience 
and of action. These are great and abiding truths, and of 
peculiar force and interest, when, in asking of the daj's that 
are past, we trace amid the foot-prints of God in providence 
the history of the town and . of the Presbyterian church of 
Londonderry. 

The earliest settlers were purely Scotch, though from 
the north of Ireland, as presentlj' explained. They brought 
their faith with them. It was neither acquired here, nor 
changed by compromise or admixture with anything found 
here. Their religion was that of the reformation modified 
in manifestation by the previous religious character of the 
Scotch people, just as the same religion was variously de- 
veloped elsewhere, according to the previous religious char- 



acter of the people where it prevailed. We saj' therefore, 
in the spirit of the text, that in this prior character of the 
Scotch will be found the sources remote, while in the refor- 
mation itself will be found the sources immediate, of the 
present history. 

It is definitely known that christians were found in the 
lowlands of Scotland in the second centur}', within one hun- 
dred years of the revelation by John. There was also near the 
close of the fourth century a further introduction of Chris- 
tianity by Ninian, of noble English birth, educated abroad, 
and made a presbj'ter. A third and still further introduc- 
tion of Christianity was made about the middle of the sixth 
century, by St. Columba, a relative of both Scotch and Irish 
princes. By such means was the foundation of the Scotch 
religious character laid, in immediate relation to the primi- 
tive christian church, and all prior to the sacrilege of full 
papal supremacy. Whatever else may be said of that prim- 
itive church, it is the common fountain of all churches and 
church histories of the name "christian." 

After Columba the christians of Scotland were called 
"Culdees" (servants of God). They took their doctrine 
and discipline directly from the Scriptures, in many vital 
points were directly contrary to Rome, and were remarka- 
ble for their simplicity and purity. 

Eame was not supreme in Scotland until the 12th cen- 
tury', and was outlawed there in 1560, within forty years 
after the reformation was a success. 

Distant as all this may seem, it is of the asking enjoined, 
that we may know God in the providence of our origin, and 
know the true character of that people who as Presbyterians 
were the chief defenders of the faith and of protestantism in 
1689, and who afterwards settled our town and founded our 
church. 

But, the period of the Scotch reformation was also the 



period of the greatest civil and religious strife between Scot- 
land and England. 

Two laws of the British parliament — the act of suprem- 
acy in 1534 giving to the sovereign supreme ecclesiastical 
power, and the act of uniformity in 1563, providing a spec- 
ial court for the suppression and punishment of dissent — 
were oppressively felt in Scotland, as again subjecting con- 
science to forms of civil law, and as simply transferring the 
intolerance of Eome to London. Even the triumph of Crom- 
well was in one respect an added coercion, for though a Pu- 
ritan and opposed to both Rome and England, he was no 
less opposed to Presb}- terians, of whom there were eighty-one 
in the parliament which he dissolved by force of arms. At 
length a spirit of separation came upon multitudes of the peo- 
ple, at a time loo when the province of Ulster in Ireland had 
by attempted insurrection become forfeited to the king, who 
offered the most favorable terms for its re-settlement. The 
result was an immediate emigration without a parallel in its 
aims and consequences, if not in numbers. 

" For ask now of the days that are past * * * Hath God 
assayed to go and take him a nation from the midst of an- 
other nation as he did for you ?" The original movement 
was mainl}' in two directions, and about 1G12. IVJan^-, chiefly 
English, passed over to the continent, and thence bj' the May- 
flower and other vessels later, found their way to New Eng- 
land as the Ph'mouth and Massachusetts colonies. Many 
others, chiefl}^ IScotch, passed over to Ireland and resettled 
the province of Ulster. These Scots of Ulster maintained a 
separate and most exclusive existence, rarely or never inter- 
marrying with the people about them. By emigration, how- 
ever, they secured but in part that freedom of conscience 
which the}' sought. The}' escaped the burdens of those sub- 
sequent conflicts out of which Scotland won her ecclesiasti- 
cal triumph, but were soon called to no less important trials 
and for the equal benefit of Scotland and the world. These 



they encountered with a heroism of defense unsurpassed, in 
the ever memorable siege of Londonderry, a chief city of 
Ulster, from December, 1688, to August, 1689. 

It was the decisive conflict of the time between Catholi- 
cism striving for supremacy and Protestantism contending 
for rights of conscience, and the defenders of Londonderrj"^ 
were awarded exemption from taxation by act of Parlia- 
ment. 

Still they failed of that measure of freedom which the}-- 
had a right to expect, and again was revived a spirit of em- 
igration. Of a large number of colonists, sixteen men and 
their families made the first settlement in town. On the eve 
of their departure for America Rev. James Macgregor, after- 
wards first minister in Londonderry, preached to them, from 
the words of Moses in' his guidance of Israel, Ex. 33 : 15. 

They arrived within the town limits April 11, 1719, old 
style, at a place called Horse-hill, between the present Derry 
and East Derr3^ The day following Rev. James Macgregor, 
before alluded to, delivered under a spreading oak the first 
sermon ever preached in the town, from Isaiah 32 : 2. In 
May following, complying with a call for that purpose, Mr. 
Macgregor solemnly- assumed pastoral charge of the settlers 
as a church, taking his text from Ezekiel 37 : 26. 

Verily, it was Abraham and his altars, and the town was 
settled and its church established. 

Accessions now followed rapidly. From April to Sep- 
tember, the families increased to seventj'. For the conven- 
iencies of near neighborhood, and protection against Indian 
hostilities, the sixteen first settlers made their " home lots," 
so called, but thirty rods in width, by one mile in length, 
giving rise to a multiplicity of roads winding in every direc- 
tion. 

The Township title was a source of manj' difficulties. 
Application was first made to the general court of Massa- 
chusetts, for " confirmation of their /on/ier grant" doubtless 



that given upon the address on parchment, signed by 319 
persons and sent over preparatory to immigration. Massa- 
chusetts, however, renounced jurisdiction, and application was 
then made to the general court of New Hampshire, to which 
was returned an answer extending protection and the bene- 
fits of government, but no grant, because the title was in dis- 
pute between the crown and the heirs of one Allen. 

In the meantime ascertaining that Rev. John Wheel- 
wright had made a fair purchase from the Indians by deed 
of May 17, 1629, and that John Wheelwright, his grandson, 
was then the owner, the settlers at once negotiated a fair 
purchase from the latter. The deed was dated at Boston, 
October 20, 1719. In vain may we ask of the daj-s that are 
past for a nobler monument to the integrity" of the fathers of 
any people. 

A charter on authority of the crown was granted June 
21, 1722. Among other things, it reserved all mast trees 
and a quit rent of one peck of potatoes yearly forever. Still 
to maintain their title they were subjected to law-suits and to 
many conflicts with lawless bands of plunderers. 

The first regular town-meeting was held November 9, 
1719. June 3, 1720, the town A^oted that a meeting house be 
built ''as sune as it can with conveniency," and on the 29th 
of the same month that it be built " within 7 rhods of a black 
stake set up either upon or near to Mr. Macgregor's lott." 

It was finished the following year, and located within a 
few feet of the present house in East Derry. Thus in a lit- 
tle more than two years after settlement they dedicated a 
well finished house of worship, while their own homes were 
built of logs. In 1723, a log schoolhouse was erected near 
the church, and soon after efforts were made to maintain a 
school in each quarter of the town six months each year. 
The}^ did not believe that " ignorance is the mother of devo- 
tion." All able bodied men were accustomed to attend 
church, well armed and prepared against any sudden Indian 



attack. Their first pastor, Rev. James Mac- 
gregor, always marched into his pulpit with his 
gun well loaded and primed. The gun is still 
preserved. 

They were a frank people. Hard thoughts 
were not whispered about in private scandal, 
but the oflender was the first to hear. 

The}' were high minded though poor. 
Said a good woman to her husband, building a 
log house, " Aweel, Aweel, dear Joan, an it 
maun be a log house, do make it a log 
heegher nor the lave" (a log higher than the 
rest). 

They were practical, adapting themselves 
to circumstances. Vehicles were at first un- 
known, even women journeying on foot with 
children in their arms. A little later riding 
on horse-back was the chief mode of convey- 
ance. Hon. John Prentice was the first to 




n^e^^z/iyCc^tc — 



own a chaise near the beginning of the pres- 
ent century. It excited wonder and was 
deemed extravagant. 

No people w-ere ever more loyal to civil 
authority. In the old French war with Eng- 
land, of 1745, Dr. Matthew Thornton, after- 
Avards a signer of the Declaration of Inde- 
pendence, served as surgeon in a campaign of 
great hardship against Cape Breton ; and upon 
the renewal of hostilities, in 1756, three com- 
panies of a New Hampshire regiment, assisted 
at the attempt upon Crown Point, serving 



10 
under Captains Robert Rogers, William Stark and the cele- 



/ie-^1^A^y^ 



brated John Stark, afterwards General in the revolution. 

These three captains and many of their soldiers 
were from Londonderry. But it was no servile loyalty. 
These Presbj^erian colonists had resisted unto blood, for 
rights of conscience in the old world, and in the new they 
could not admit any definition of loj-alty that involved the 
denial of those rights. Among these the}' reckoned equality 
of civil rights. 

When therefwe England raised the flag of coercion 
against equality of civil rights they were prompt in defence. 
Even before the encounter at Lexington a compan}^ of 3'oung 
men from Londonderry, under Captain Aikin, rescued from 
their captors near Haverhill, Mass., four British soldiers who 
had deserted. 

As soon as General Gage was known to be marching 
troops from Boston into the interior, New Hampshire re- 
sponded with 1200 men at Charlestown and Cambridge, 
among them a large compan}' from Londonderry. When 
the news of hostilities reached the town " men dropped their 
implements and in a few hours all who could bear arms were 
assembled on the common at the meeting house." 

December 17, 1776, the town voted a committee to in- 
struct their delegates to the State assembly, as they say, " at 
this calamitous time that they may know how to act the minds 
of their constituents, as well as their own. " Also "that the 
remainder of the powder shall be divided to everyone that 
hath not already received of the same, as far as it will go, 
provided he produces a gun of his own in good order, and is 
willing to go against the enemy, and promises not to waste 
any of the powder only in self defence, and provided also that 



11 

he shows twenty bullets to suit his gun and six good flints." 
In January, 1778, the town voted to provide for the families 
of soldiers in the Continental army. 

And when, after peace, it was proposed to permit the 
Tories to return to the state, the town sent a memorial to the 
Legislature, stating the crimes of murder, arson, plunder, ra- 
pine and carnage, of which the Tories had been guilty, and 
saying : " We expect that you will use your best endeavor 
that nothing may ever be done for those infernal wretches by 
the state, further than to provide a gallows, halter and hang- 
man for every one that dare show their vile countenances 
amongst us. " May every censure of such language as harsh 
be modified by that measure of righteous indignation due to 
the crimes and trials that provoked it. According to Parker's 
history, the town furnished the following number of men to 
sustain the armies of the Revolution, viz : 99 in 1775, 62 
in 1776, 180 in 1777 and 1778, 17 in 1779, 13 in 1780, 30 
in 1781, 2 in 1782. Some of these are named more than 
once, because of short terms of service. Though the list is 
not free from mistakes, yet it is as nearly so as possible from 
present information. 

Owing to the depreciation of Continental money stringent 
measures were taken against "sharpers and hawkers" who 
sought to enrich themselves out of the necessities of the peo- 
ple. Attorney's fees were voted to be cut down one-half, and 
"They would not then be so fond of business, and people 
would have time to breathe." 

No higher compliment to the founders of the town and its 
church is needed than the historical fact that during all their 
wars "The yell of the savage and the shriek of the murdered 
never mingled their discordant notes in Londonderry." The 
reasons suggested are : (1) the justness of the title acquired, 
(2) the early college friendship of Rev. Mr. Macgregor with 
the governor of Canada, who caused the Indians under Cath- 
olic influence to be restrained by the Romish priests. 



12 

Marriages among the early settlers were occasions of great 
festivity, attended with the discharge of musketry, and the 
singular custom of friends of the respective parties meeting 
in the highway, and choosing champions to "run for the bot- 
tle" at the bride's residence. This was followed by a toast 
from the victor. In closing the ceremony, the minister gave 
specific directions to the groom to salute his bride. 

Funerals were characterized by great congregations. 
Every relative, however distant, and every acquaintance rea- 
sonably near must attend to avoid giving offence. They 
were followed by large entertainments, sometimes at such 
expense as to impoverish the family. 

The first marriage in town was that of John Wallace to 



^^'^U{!£o^ 



Annis Barnet, May 18, 1721. The first funeral was that of 
John Clark, January 13, 1720-1. The first person born in the 
town was Jonathan Morrison, son of John and Margaret, 



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T^x^^^-r-tA^iTi^^ 



Sept. 18, 1719. James McKeen was born a few days later. 
It was an occasion of much anxiety "which mother's son 
should obtain the prize of a farm or lot of land which was to 
be assigned to the first born son of Londonderry.'' 

This Jonathan Morrison was the uncle of Hon. Jeremiah 
Smith, a man of much talent, and was reputed to be " mill- 
wright, blacksmith, carpenter, house-joiner, stone cutter and 
gun-maker.'' 

The social habits of men were characterized by athletic 
sports. For the pleasure of seeing who could soonest load a 
wagon with barrels of cider, neighbors meeting by the way 
were known deliberately to unload, and load again for that 
purpose. The social intercourse of the females was nearly 



13 

always attended with the small wheel and flax, thus combin- 
ing pleasure and profit. 

As a specimen of wit, impossible to illustrate, it may be 
stated that when the Legislature had voted to print the sermon 
of Rev. Dr. Morrison preached before them, a member solemn- 
ly moved to print an additional number, "provided they would 
print the brogue." 

In 1827 the eastern portion of the town was set off as a 
new town called Derry. 

The earliest manufactures were fine linen fabrics. Being 
of superior quality they were soon counterfeited, and a commit- 
tee was appointed to protect the town against the sale of 
"outlandish linens" as they called the counterfeits. 

Weaving was an honorable calling, chiefly done by men. 
One John Montgomery received from Congress forty pounds 
in money and a diamond ring as a premium for linen woven 
for Washington and officers of the army. 

Clothing was all of domestic make. The hand-card, foot 
wheel and loom were in nearly every house. 

In the absence of horses and oxen, grain to be ground 
was carried on the shoulders of men. 

Many of the pioneers of civilization in other towns of 
New Hampshire, and in Vermont, Maine, New York and 
Nova Scotia were from Londonderry. 

Colonists went out to other towns in New Hampshire as 
follows : To Bedford in 1737, Peterborough in 1741, Acworth 
in 1766, Antrim, Henniker and Deering in 1767, New Boston 
somewhat earlier than 1774. Windham was made a separate 
town out of Londonderry in 1741. 

Chester, Manchester, Merrimack and Gofi'stown were 
also, for the most part, colonies from Londonderry. 

Colonists to other places went out nearly as follows : To 
Cherry Valley, New York, in 1741 ; the towns of Truro and 
Londonderry, "Nova Scotia, in 1760 ; Londonderry and Wind- 
ham, Vermont, in 1774. 



14 

Religion was a principal thing with the people. 

Catechising annually, even with Scripture proofs, was 
continued more than one hundred years. 

By vote of the town a committee was occasionly chosen 
to allot seats in the church, on what was called bester priv- 
ilege, i. e. a man's standing in reference to property, influ- 
ence and ability. Numerous protests are on record, of men 
complaining that they were not awarded their bester privi- 
lege. 

That this was little else than a committee of confusion, 
the following votes with their odd orthography, and as re- 
corded without punctuation, will suggest : 

"Voted that the class that pays most reals in the present 
reals shall have the first choise." 

"Yoted that the committee shall forthwith proceed to 
take in the classes in the following manner that the first class 
shall have liberty to chose their seat in any part of the meet- 
ing house they please where the seat ie above their reals and 
if any other class that pays one shilling or more above the 
first shall come in six minuets time and say they chose the 
same seat that the first is to chose elsewhere or they may 
class themselves otherwise for the same seat and in this man- 
ner till the whole house be divided." 

Evidently on the bester privilege the house must have 
been amply and accurately occupied. And as evidently the 
occupants were not to be found sleeping in church, for about 
1735 the town voted that if a man was found sleeping in 
church he should be punished by sitting in the stocks. Of 
the oldest inhabitants, Captain Joseph Dickey, aged 92, a 
sister of his, Mrs. Martha Boyd 96, another sister of his, 
Mrs. Ela 94, another sister Mrs. Dickey nearly 90, 
Jabez Towns 92, and Mrs. Robert Boyd nearly 90, fully 
corroborate many of the incidents, traditions and character- 
istics narrated. 

As to the Presbyterians of Ulster, a Mr. Reed of Phila- 



15 

delphia, and an Episcopalian, has honored them in saying, 
"A Presbyterian tory was a thing unheard of." 

It is a matter of history that the founders of civil gov- 
ernment in this country, and even ttie framers of the Consti- 
tution of the United States were largely indebted to the 
standards of the Presbyterian church for the simple elements 
of representative republicanism, which they enacted into the 
fundamental laws of a free people. 

The Ulster emigrants were the founders of Presbyteri- 
anism in America. . It is said upon good authority that Pres- 
byterian churches in Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania 
were formed prior to this in Londonderry. Still they were 
of Ulster emigrants, and by a very brief priority at most. 
The church in Londonderry was at least among the very ear- 
liest, and from its records is believed to have been in its ori- 
gin, more intimately and directly, than any other, connected, 
not alone with Ulster but with the siege of Derry in the 
great conflict between Catholicism and Protestantism. Two 
of its ministers, Eev. James Macgregor and Eev. Matthew 
Clark, bore arms in that siege. Among others of the first 
settlers in Londonderry were those who participated in that 
conflict, and were honored with exemption from taxation by 
the EngUsh parliament. Their lands here were known as 
"the exempt farms." 

The church was, as stated, organized in 1719 ; Eev. 
James Macgregor the first pastor. 

The first Presbytery ia New England was formed at 
Londonderry, N. H., April 16, 1745, by Eev. John Moerhead 
of Boston, Eev. David Macgregor of Londonderry, and 
Eev. Eobert Abercrombie of Pelham, and the churches un- 
der their charge. The last recorded meeting of this Presby- 
tery was at Pelham in April, 1755, just ten years after its for- 
mation. Its only record name is The Presbytery. Yet it 
was formed at Londonderry, and if the rule of history be fol- 
lowed in designating important events, such as battles, coun- 



16 

cils, treaties, by the names of their places, the historical name 
of this Presbytery must be The Presbytery of Londonderry. 
In the records of the Synod of New England, formed at 
Seabrook, N. H., 1775, and showing how it originated, there 
is a copy entire of the minutes of the Presbytery of Bos- 
ton, with the following title page : 

"This book begins Sept. 24, 1770." 

A true and correct copy of the minutes of the Eev. Pres- 
bytery, now called the Presbytery of Boston, consisting of 12 
congregations, whose ministers are as foUoweth : John Moer- 
head, Boston ; David Macgregor, Londonderry ; Jonathan 
Parsons, Newburyport ; Danl. Mitchel, Pembrook ; John 
Huston, Bedford ; Moses Baldwin, Kingston ; Richard Gra- 
ham, Pelham ; Saml. Perley, Seabrook ; Thorn' Pierce (his 
place y' scribe know' not) ; John Morrison, Petersburgh ; 
Simon Williams, Windham ; John Strickland, Oakham." 

That this Presbytery of Boston was a new and distinct 
body, formed September 24, 1770, appears upon the above title 
page, and from the fact that several of the twelve congregations 
do not appear to have belonged to the Presbytery of London- 
derry. At the formation of the synod, the Presbytery of 
Boston was dissolved and formed into the three Presbyteries 
of Salem, Londonderry and Pelham, which constituted the 
synod. Parker's History of Londonderry says that other 
Presbyteries were soon after formed in Massachusetts and 
Maine. 

In 1782, this synod was dissolved and formed into what 
was called " The Presbytery of Salem." After subsequent 
divisions and changes, there was formed Ma}', 1794, a union 
of the reformed Presbytery of Londonderry, and of the 
Eastern ]^resb3ftery ; the body thus united was called " The 
Presbytery of Londonderry." This title it continued to 
hold until the late union of Old and New School, when it 
was changed to " The Presbytery of Boston." 

It is worthy of note that during the early pastorates of 



17 

this church, impurity of speech, the circulation of slanderous 
reports, dishonest}' and neglect of social religious duties, 
were subjects of prompt and faithful discipline. 

One for disrespect of his father was rebuked and exhort- 
ed to honor his parents ; another was censured " for using 
unjustifiable expressions of a profane character ;" another 
for having found an axe in the road and not leaving it at the 
next tavern, as the law required. Still another for repi'oach- 
ful words respecting the pastor — his confession was read in 
public. Parker's history (1851) says : " In those days, the 
character of the minister was faithfully protected by the church, 
against the scandals and malicious designs of those who de- 
sired to destroy his influence. Defamers of the ministry 
werenot then countenanced and sustained as they now are 
b}'^ numbers in almost every community." 

March 5, 1729, Eev. James Macgregor died, to the great 
loss of the town and parish. He was succeeded by Rev. 
Matthew Clark, from Londonderry, Ireland, as acting pas- 
tor. He had been an officer in the defence of Londonderry, 
Ireland, and in one of the sallies made b}' the besieged, he 
was wounded by a ball grazing the temple and so affecting 
the bone that it never healed. '' The sore was concealed by 
a black patch, as his portrait now shows." 

And withal he was quite eccentric. In preaching upon 
the over-confidence of Peter, he said : "just like Peter, aye 
mair forrit than wise, ganging swaggering aboot, wi' a sword 
at his side ; an' a puir han' he mad' o' it when he com' to the 
trial, for he only cut oflF a chiel's lug, an' he ought to ha' 
split douu his heed." He is said to have stopped in the 
course of a sermon to say to a young British officer, who re- 
mained standing to attract attention, "Ye are a braw lad, 
yo ha'e a braw suit o' claithes, an' we ha'e a' seen them, ye 
may sit doun." Being a man of martial spirit, tradition says 
that while presiding over the presbytery, a training band of mu- 
sic so excited him that he could not attend to business. To 

3 



18 

repeated calls he replied, "Nae business while 1 hear the 
tap of the drum." But he was no less a devout man. He 
died January 25, 1735, aged 76 years, and at his special re- 
quest was borne to the grave by those who had been his fel- 
low soldiers and fellow sufferers in the siege of Londonderry. 

Prior to his death and in October, 1733, or shortly after, 
Rev. Thomas Thompson, of the presbytery of Tyione, Ireland, 
became pastor. His first sermon was from those appropri- 
ate words of Peter to Cornelius, Acts 10 : 29, "Therefore came 
I unto you without gainsaying as soon as I was sent for : I 
ask therefore for what intent you have sent for me." He 
lived but about five years after his settlement. In 1734 Mr. 
Thompson had present seven hundred communicants at cue 
season. This number is reckoned to include members of 
the church residing in other settlements, and members of 
other churches "who came up as the tribes of Israel to 
unite with their brethren." 

Communion seasons were then preceded by preaching 
on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Thursday was ob- 
served with great strictness as a sacramental fast-daj'. 
" Any violation of it b}^ secular concerns was a disciplinable 
offence." One was disciplined for spreading out haj- to dr}- 
on such a day. The Monday following was a day of thanks- 
giving. 

These extra services gave rise to much preaching, re- 
quiring the aid of other ministers. Ministers, elders, and 
communicants from several churches often united in the sac- 
rament on the Sabbath. Small pieces of metal called to- 
kens, stamped with the initials of the churches were distrib- 
uted, to prevent intruders. 

Long, narrow tables were spread in the aisles. Some- 
times three or four sittings, arranged according to age, would 
be necessary, protracting the services to the going down of 
the sun. These seasons were often attended with many 
conversions. 



19 

The use of tokens, and other peculiarities of those sacra- 
mental occasions, have long since passed away, though the 
church still adheres to the ancient custom of having but two 
communion seasons in each year. The custom originated 
with the churches in Scotland, soon after the reformation 
there — being generally made an ecclesiastical occasion. To 
the church in Londonderry, N. H., it continues a season of 
great interest and importance. 

During Mr. Thompson's pastorate a movement begun in 
1733, was consummated resulting in a division of the parish 
into the east and west parishes. After the division Rev. 
David Macgregor, son of Rev. James, became pastor of the 
west parish, 1736. 

In 1739-40, the west parish was invested with parish 
privileges by the General Court. The house in which Rev. 
David Macgregor chiefly ministered was in Aiken's range 
west of the Pinkerton academy. He occasionally preached 
in the Hill meeting house, so called, about one mile west of 
Aiken's range. This latter house had been erected in antici- 
pation of a division of the parish, but was abandoned for a 
site a mile still further west, in consequence of the matter of 
forty families, hereafter recited. There is a graveyard of 
ancient date near the abandoned site, and many worthy and 
faithful are sleeping there. 

That this was a division, and not a colonizing, is evi- 
dent from the whole transaction. The town was divided 
into two parishes, east and west, but parish lines were whol- 
ly disregarded. Forty families of the west parish were al- 
lowed to attend and be taxed for worship in the east parish, 
while forty families in the east were allowed to attend and 
be taxed for worship in the west. It is said to have been 
on account of preferences as to the pastors. For many years 
these families were accustomed to meet and pass each other 
in going to church. Sometimes these meetings were attend- 
ed with quite ludicrous scenes, persons going miles on foot 



20 

carrying a second and better pair of shoes to put on just before 
reaching church, two or more using a single horse, each rid- 
ing a short distance and hitching the horse for another to 
ride on coming up. It is reported of two persons engaged 
to be married, that they died in old age and single, because 
they could not agree which meeting to attend. 

Windham was set off as a distinct parish in 1741, from the 
east parish. 

Whatever else therefore may be said of the division, cer- 
tainly all the old histories belong to the church for whom 
this discoui'se is written, now and for many years the onl}' 
Presbyterian church (except Windham as stated above) 
within the limits of the original parish. And this because 
each half is part of the original whole, and because the 
church in the east parish, (now Derry, set off from London- 
derry as a town in 1827) long ago transferred themselves to 
another denomination. For many years it has been no more 
a Presbyterian church. It took no part in the formation of 
the first Presbytery in New England in 1745. It was not 
represented in that Presbytery during its records of ten years, 
nor in the Presbytery of Boston from its constitution in 1770 
to its dissolution in 1775. 

The church of the west parish is therefore the only true 
continuation of the Presbyterian church of Londonderry found- 
ed in 1719. 

Rev. David Macgregor joined heartily in the revival 
work of the great Whitefield who (Parker's history says) visit- 
ed the town and preached to multitudes in an open field. In 
miost of the meeting houses of that day the seats were plain. 
There were no luxuries of cushions, carpets, or stoves, and 
yet a two hours service was relished. 

Eev. David Macgregor died May 30, 1777, aged 68, after 
a pastorate of over forty years. He was an animated, inter- 
esting preacher, and his house was usually thronged. 

Though not educated at college, yet Princeton conferred 



21 

on him the honorary"- degree of Master of Arts. In 1755 the 
Brick church of New York City extended to him a call, which 
however he declined. 

He proved his high christian character by entering a 
criminal court, as counsel to defend a decided opposer. The 
man was convicted, but Mr. Macgregor believing him to be 
innocent, afterwards proved it, and procured his pardon. 

Previous to his death the parish erected a new house 
about one mile west of the hill meeting-house at a place more 
central. In this new house Eev. Dr. Morison was ordained 
as Mr. Macgregor' s successor, Feb. 12, 1783. He died March 
9, 1818, after a pastorate of 35 years. 

His remains are in the cemetery near the church in which 
he was ordained. 

He was succeded by Eev. Daniel Dana, D. D., Jan. 15, 
1822, — Dr. Dana having then recently resigned the presiden- 
cy of Dartmouth College. The church reluctantly acceded to 
his request for a dissolution of the pastoral relation in April, 
1826. ' 

Rev. Amasa A. Hayes succeeded him June 25, 1828, 
He died Oct. 23, 1830, greately lamented. 

Oct. 5, 1831, Eev. John E. Adams was installed. In 
1832 he married Miss Mary Ann Macgregor, grand- daughter 
of Eev. David Macgregor. His pastoral relation to the 
church was dissolved on his own request, by Londonderry 
presbytery, in September, 1838. Just at the close of this pas- 
torate, im 1837, the parish erected a new edifice, on the Mam- 
moth road, near the centre of the town, about a mile west from 
the last location. The old church was removed and reconstruct- 
ed into a town hall, also near the town centre. It is eminently 
proper that in a hall of such memories the ancient custom of 
opening town meetings with prayer should be maintained as 
it is here. The session house was also removed and con- 
verted into a dwelling, and is now serving that purpose on 
the Mammoth road, about two miles north of the new church. 



22 

The new church was dedicated September 7, 1838, and 
still remains the house of God unto his people of the Presby- 
terian church in Londonderry. In consequence of the last 
change of location twenty-three members on the easterly side 
of the parish united with forty from the East Derry church 
in forming a Congregational church in Derry lower village. 

November 5, 1840, Rev. Timothy G. Brainerd was in- 
stalled. He had nearly qualified for the bar before entering 
the ministry. During his charge a commodious manse was 
erected on a pleasant site near the new church. His pasto- 
rate, at his own request, was dissolved by the presbytery, April 
25, 1855. He was succeeded by Rev. William House, installed 
October 7, 1857. At his own request the pastoral relation 
was dissolved February 26, 1873. 

During all these pastorates there were notable works of 
grace. The church has never waned in prosperity. Rarely 
has a church been blessed with such a succession of pastors 
as the preceding, — men so devout and eminently fitted for 
their station. 

The present pastorate commenced, by unanimous call ac- 
cepted, December 13, 1874,, followed by installation February 
23, 1875. During its continuance twenty-seven have been 
added to the church on profession, and others are waiting to 
follow in the covenant act of the confession of Christ. 

Th5 earliest church records of the west parish to Decem- 
ber 14, 1837, were lost some years since, while loaned for 
evidence in a civil suit at law. The parish records, however, 
are entire. 

In 1829 a Baptist church was organized in the north part 
of the town, still occupying a handsome edifice there. In 
1854 there was also organized a Methodist church, now 
worshipping in a commodious house near the town hall. 

A few considerations are worthy of note to close this his- 
tory : 

1. That the Presbyterianism of America, through its 



23 

Scotch original in the church of Londonderry and others of 
Ulster origin, may be traced in some elements of its history, 
to the primitive christian church. 

2. That the Presbyterian church of America is not 
chargeable with anything real or imaginary, respecting the 
antinomian controversy of 1637, nor respecting the witch- 
craft mania of Salem, Mass., culminating about 1692. This 
latter tragedy was in preparation here nearly at the time when 
they who founded Presbyterianism in America were defend- 
ing the faith of protestantism in the siege of Londonderry, 
Ireland. 

3. That the Presbyterian church of Londonderry, N. H., 
if not the first, is among the very first to found Presbyterian- 
ism in this country, 

4. That the present Presbyterian church of London- 
derry, N. H., is the only immediate representative of the 
Presbyterian founders of the toicn, since the transferrence of 
the east parish to another denomination. 

5. That the Presbyterian church of Londonderry has 
been signally blessed and prospered of God in all its pasto- 
rates, and the work of grace attending them. 

It is worth preserving ; may God preserve it. AMEiq". 



SUCCESSION OF PASTOBS. 

BEFORE THE DIVISION OF THE PARISH. 

James Macgregor, 1719 to 1729. 




yfey^W/: 



Matthew Clark, 



1729 to 1733. 



Thomas Thompson, 1733. 

AFTER THE DIVISION. 

David Maegregore, 1736 to 1777. 




William Morison, 1783 to 1818, 




Daniel Dana, 



1822 to 1826. 



25 



Amasa A. Hayes, 
John R. Adams, 
Timothy G. Brainerd, 
Wilham House, 
Luther B. Pert, 



'M^tr 



1828 to 1830. 
1831 to 1838. 
1840 to 1855. 
1857 to 1873. 
1875 



SUCCESSION OF ELDEES. 



BEFOEE THE DIVISION OF THE PARISH. 



David Cargil, 
Samuel Moar, 
John Barnet, 
James Alexander, 
Robert Wilson, 



John Cochran, 
William Ayer, 
James Adams, 
Robert Given, 
James McKeen. 



James Reid, 



JamJ^ M' j^^^^^Yi 



AFTER THE DIVISION. 



During the Rev. David Macgregore's pastorate. 



James McKeen, 
James Clark, 
James Lindsley, 
John Duncan, 
John Gregg, 
John Hunter, 
Samuel Anderson, 
John Aiken, 



James Leslie, 
James Nesmith, 
George Duncan, 
James Taggart, 
Robert Morrison, 
John McKeen, 
Samuel Eisher, 
James Reid. 



The session having been reduced by death was enlarged 
by adding during Rev. Mr. Morison's pastorate — ■ 

John Bell, John Pinkerton, 

4 



26 

Robert Thompson, Abel Plummer, 

James Aiken, Jonathan Griffin, 

Abraham Duncan, Thomas Patterson, 

James Nesmith, James Pinkerton, 

William Adams, David Brewster, 

John Fisher, Jonathan Savory. 



</C>^ ^^/ic^ 



Thomas Carlton, John Pinkerton, Jr. 

In 1827 John Holmes, Joshua Gooden and Benjamin Mc- 





"^ ^{^^.-7-^2^ 



Murphy were elected. Vacancies have since been supplied 
in part as follows : 

Ju^^JSm-A.RY 1, 1834. 

Jonathan Humphrey, James Perkins. 

Robert Boyd, Jr., 

]VIARCH: 4, 185S. 

Daniel G. Coburn, Matthew Holmes. 

David Anderson, 

NOVETvIBER 39, 1863. 

Daniel T. Shipley, James Nevins. 

John W. Greeley, 

DECEMIBEJR 39, 1873, 

John Dickey, John A. Moor. 

Warren Richardson, 

THE PRESENT SESSION CONSISTS OF 

David Anderson, John W. Greeley, 



John Dickey, 
Warren Richardson, 



27 
John A. Moor. 



MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH, NOV. 15, 1876. 

Those marked with the letter ?i being non-resident. 



Martha Boyd, 
Mary Ela, 
Joseph Dickey, 
Sarah Simonds, 
Betsey Cutler, 
Rhoda Page, 
Lucinda Woodburn, 
Joseph Annis, n. 
Sarah S. Annis, n. 
Mary A. Boyd, 
Lydia Corning, 
Sarah Smith, 
Harriet Crowell, 
Sarah Morrison, 
Betsey C Annis, 
Josiah Sleeper, 
Hannah J. Sleeper, 
David Goodwin, 
Mary Goodwin, 
Josiah Goodwin. 
Esther Goodwin, 
Daniel Goodwin, 
Warren Richardson, 
Mary Richardson, 
John W. Greeley, 
Mary Ann Greeley, 
Betsey Chrispeen, 
Samuel Gilcreast, 
Joel Coburn, 



Rebecca Shipley, 
William M. Holmes, 
Judith Holmes, 
Mary Nevins, 
Jane D. Anderson, 
Isaac Dow, 
Elizabeth Dow, 
Betsey Dow, 
Mary J. Goodwin, 
Roxanna Coburn, 
Jonathan Savory, 
Abigail Savory, 
Parley Wallace, 
Harriet Wallace, 
David Anderson, 
Persis Anderson, 
David Anderson 2d, n. 
Elizabeth Dickey, n. 
Mary Dickey, 
Thomas Boyd, 
Sarah A. Boyd, 
Branch Sampson, 
Alice Sampson, 
Lilley Cochran, 
Elizabeth C. Barker, 
Jane D. P. Mack, 
Frances A. Mack, 
Deha W. Hardy, 
Hannah Crowell, 



28 



Harriet Coburn, 
William S. Pillsbury, 
Martha S. Pillsbury, 
Martha Hardy, 
John Dickey, 
Caroline P. Dickey, 
Harriet E. Floyd, 
Almira J. Haynes, 
Mary Jane Smith, 
Lucy J. Holmes, 
Orra A. K. Coburn, 
Marinda Ladd, n. 
William P. Nevins, 
Joseph S. Goodwin, 
Mary J. Gregg, 
Caroline Murdock, 7i. 
Sophia Smith, 
Mary S. Blood, 
Sarah Blood, 
Mary Bancroft, 
Elbridge Wyman, n. 
Charlotte Towns, n. 
Charlotte A. M. Campbell, 
Eugene L. Campbell, 
Luella A. Annis, 
John A. Moor, 
Nancy E. Moor, 
Nancy P. Gilcreast, 
Mina A. Annis, 
Ella A. Gilcreast, 
Mary F. Boyce, 
Julia D. Nevins, 
Edward 0. Fifield, n. 
Frances L. Fifield, 
Georgianna Fifield, n. 



Caroline S. McAllister, 
Isabella Ela, 
Mary D. Boyd, 
Rebecca Kimball, 
Sarah J, Young, 
Jane Perkins, 
Charles Adams, n. 
Mary Adams, w. 
Aaron P. Hardy, 
Samuel Crowell, 
Isaac Kimball, 
James P. Dickey, 
Judith C. Crowell, 
Julia A. Averill, 
Emeline Gilcreast, 
Ella E. Wiley, 
Mary A. Morse, 
Nancy A. Burnhatn, n. 
Charlotte W. Boyd, 
Lucy M. Gould, n. 
Mary Gilcreast, 
Sarah G. Dillingham, n. 
Helen F. Knight, 
Persis T. Anderson, n. 
Mary J. S. Campbell, n. 
Frances M. Blood, 
Betsey Darrah, n. 
Rhoda A. Macgregor, 
Jane Sanborn, n. 
Nancy D. Caldwell, 
Caroline C. M'Allister, 
Nancy J. Whittier, 
Clarissa M. Boyce, 
Jonathan P. Gilcreast, n. 
Daniel G. Annis, 



29 



Henry J. Caldwell, 
Alonzo H. Nichols, 7i. 
Franklin Leland Coffin, n. 
Ira Johnson, 
Caroline L. Anderson, n. 



Emily Brickett, 
Louisa F. Buxton, n. 
Anna C. Young, 
Susie A. Goodwin, 
Jennet Dickey. 



UNITED DURING THE PASTORATE OF REV. L. B. PERT. 



Samuel P. Eobie, 
Adeline Robie, 
Nellie A. Eobie, 
James F. Young, 
Elizabeth Young, 
Andrew W. Mack, 
Hiram Cutler, 
Harriet E. Hardy, 
Lizzie E. Crowell, 
Alice J. Moor, 
Nellie 0. Moor, 
Charles S. Pillsbury, 
Mary Pillsbury, 
Abby Caldweli, 



Ellen P. Pert, 
Clara W. Boyd, 
Melinda Avery, 
Paulina Avery, 
Laura Z. Dow, 
Albert Gr. Conant, 
Priscilla Conant, 
Martha J. Boyd, 
Maria W. Boyd, 
Nellie M. Richardson, 
Florence E. Boyd, 
Henry Crowell, 
George N. Goodwin. 



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